(Minghui.org) Ms. Xiao Hongyan from Shaoyang was sentenced to another five-year prison term in July 2014, only one year after her release from prison in July 2013.

In her trial on June 11, Ms. Xiao pleaded not guilty and defended herself. She explained that Falun Gong is unjustly persecuted by the communist regime, and how beneficial the practice has been for herself and for millions of people worldwide. She also stated that her actions did not violate any existing Chinese law.

The judge had nothing to say in response and called for an adjournment. Despite there being no evidence of criminal activity, the judge refused to release Ms. Xiao. In the end, Ms. Xiao was sentenced to another five years in prison.

Ms. Xiao's home was ransacked by the police and she was forcibly taken into custody on May 18, 2014. She was later sent to the Suining County Detention Center. The trial in June was the first time that her son and family members have been allowed to see her since her arrest.

Prior Arrests and Sentencing

Ms. Xiao was sentenced to five years on May 13, 2008. She was arrested by about five officers after returning home from shopping. She was taken to the Dongkou County Detention Center. She was released in July 2013.

Ms. Xiao has been persecuted by the Dongkou 610 Office since the Chinese Communist Party initiated the persecution in 1999. She was arrested in 2003 by officers from the Shijiang Town Police Station for talking to people about Falun Gong. She was slapped by police officers. She went on a hunger strike for nearly two weeks at the local detention center to protest the illegal detention. She finally suffered a heart attack from the abuse and was then released.

Ms. Xiao Hongyan, 45, from the Jinwu Village, Dongkou County in Hunan Province began practicing Falun Gong in 1998.

Parties responsible for the persecution of Ms. Xiao:

Li Hanbin (李汉斌), chief of the Suining County Court in Shaoyang City: +86-739-7611460Fu Bailin (付柏林), deputy chief of the Suining County Court in Shaoyang City: +86-739-7617511Liu Mouming (刘谋明), director of the local domestic security division: +86-739-7222083, +86-13517425556 (Cell)Wang Xiangmao (王祥茂), head of the local 610 Office: +86-13786969028 (Cell)Li (李某), officer at the Dongkou Police Station: +86-13874297396 (Cell)Yang Zhangde (杨章德), Party secretary of the Suining County Political and Legal Affairs Committee: +86-739-7608268